Liverpool 3, Newcastle 1 (D,Post)

THE OLD ones are the best. Accidents not design have forced Rafael Benitez to adopt the mantle of tactical conjurer this season but it was the return of old faithful that showed the way forward for Liverpool yesterday.

THE OLD ones are the best. Accidents not design have forced Rafael Benitez to adopt the mantle of tactical conjurer this season but it was the return of old faithful that showed the way forward for Liverpool yesterday.

Benitez has not been the only Premiership manager to place 4-4-2 on the list of endangered species during this campaign, although lone strikers have been more an indication of availability than preference at Liverpool.

It was back in favour against Newcastle, however, and with six adventurous players on from the start, 4-1-4-1, 4-2-3-1 and every other pin-number formation left on the training ground, Liverpool delivered an overwhelming case for it to stay.

For the first time this season Benitez fielded his preferred mid-field in their natural positions while Milan Baros was able to plough his furrows in tandem with a fellow striker and the pressure of a disappointing week was released with ruthless effect.

The Czech striker took his tally to 11 for the season in a man of the match performance that belied his recent month on the sidelines and ensured Steven Gerrard could concentrate on his own game instead of carrying others.

Form and fitness conspired to bring a team display out of Liverpool rather than waiting for the inspiration of an individual. Indeed, the Kop was even able to mock its captain for a second half shot that scattered the pigeons in the roof of the Anfield Road stand rather than breaking the net a la Olympiakos and Portsmouth as responsibility for victory was embraced by everyone.

Baros led that recovery, but he was not alone. Harry Kewell continued his recent improvement with his most commanding performance of the season and Neil Mellor presented another argument for remaining in this company with his fifth goal in nine appearances.

It was all too much for sorry Newcastle, who were reduced to 10 men in the 77th minute when Lee Bowyer collected his second yellow card of the game and whose claim for three points lasted the entire three minutes they were ahead thanks to Patrick Kluivert's controversial opener.

Before kick off Benitez admitted Newcastle would be among Liverpool's competitors for fourth place while reiterating his belief that the return and improvement of his biggest talents would guarantee that prize for his team regardless. On this evidence, only 50% of that view contains any truth.

Liverpool have nothing to fear from Graeme Souness's inherited collection of egos and unwarranted reputations in this season's pursuit of a Champions League finish. Even the UEFA Cup looks beyond Newcastle at this stage.

The visitors' defence has long been maligned as the weak foundation on which their prospects regularly flounder and while that is obviously true, it was their more respected midfield that were comprehensively outplayed by their Liverpool counterparts yesterday.

With Gerrard back in his natural central role and Luis Garcia handed an instant recall after his recovery from a hamstring strain Benitez found a blend of invention, movement and strength.

Kieron Dyer, Jermaine Jenas and Bowyer could not compete, apart from in one telling first half moment that gave Newcastle a shock lead.

Jerzy Dudek had only been troubled by a long-range free kick from Olivier Bernard in the opening half hour as Liverpool controlled the game, albeit with in a performance beset by inconsistency.

In the 32nd minute, however, the visitors edged in front against the run of play and with a goal that further exposed the ludicrousness of recent changes to the offside law.

The assistant referee was entirely correct not to penalise Kluivert for being in an offside position as, under the new guidelines, he was not interfering when Bowyer raced onto Dyer's threaded pass from an onside position.

Yet the advantage of those few extra yards were crucial in the Dutch international beating the retreating Liverpool defence to Bowyer's squared ball and converting into an empty net.

The home side had every right to feel incensed at another rule that has brought more unnecessary complication to the game, if not at the linesman obeying orders, but they ignored distractions and channelled their grievances into the kind of ruthless performance Benitez has been demanding instead.

One of the most revealing statistical flaws the Liverpool manager has eradicated this season has been the side's inability to overturn first-half deficits. The defeat of Manchester City in August ended a five-year wait for such a recovery at Anfield while October's comeback at Craven Cottage broke a 13-year abstinence away from home. Nowadays, as if to indicate that rapid progress is being made at Liverpool, they need only six minutes.

Three minutes after falling behind Liverpool drew level courtesy of the kind of intervention that has forged Titus Bramble's reputation as an accident in progress rather than one waiting to happen.

Gerrard drove a powerful but defendable corner to the near post where Bramble and Sami Hyypia tussled for possession. The Newcastle man won, but only succeeded in sending a textbook centre forward's header beyond Shay Given.

In the 38th minute Liverpool added a second and from that moment the outcome never looked in doubt.

From the home perspective it was a fine execution, from Souness's another defensive aberration.

Baros collected a routine pass down the centre with his back to goal but then spun Robbie Elliott with embarrassing ease before inviting Mellor to roll an expert finish beyond Given and into the far corner.

Garcia could have sealed the result in first half stoppage time when he killed Alonso's cross-field pass and forced a low save out of the Republic of Ireland keeper, but when the third arrived in the 61st minute it was well worth the wait.

Liverpool had continued to dominate in the second half and prised the Newcastle defence apart in style when Kewell skipped clear of a midfield challenge and sent a precision pass down the centre towards Baros.

High on confidence the striker danced around the exposed keeper and clipped a deft finish over the line.

Jenas and Laurent Robert both went close to minimising the damage late on but it was left to Bowyer to inflict only more on his team-mates when he lunged at Florent Sinama-Pongolle for an inevitable second booking.

That was Newcastle's last memorable contribution to the afternoon, Liverpool's was to almost score a stunning fourth when Baros turned into Pele in Escape to Victory and executed a fine overhead kick, only to miss by inches.

The contrast in style was appropriate. Liverpool, as Benitez has always insisted, can be a class apart from their peers if they want.